Yangon Travel Guide

Yangon, also known as Rangoon, is the largest city in Myanmar located at the junction of Yangon and Bago River. Yangon's capital is one of the most attractive destinations when traveling to Asia and is known as the sparkling jewel in the center of Myanmar. Tourists coming to Yangon will be completely conquered by the clear blue lakes, tree-lined parks and magnificent golden temples. This is the reason why Yangon is called the "Garden of the East".

Yangon

Yangon was originally founded in the early 11^th century by the Mon, who inhabited the Lower Burma region. The forerunner of this city was a small fishing town of Dagon which was centered around the nowadays Shwedagon Pagoda. King Alaungpaya was the one who renamed it as Yangon, meaning "the end of conflict". By 1885, this name was changed into Rangoon when the British colonialists annexed Myanmar.\

Main history event:
Yangon has experienced both glory and destruction throughout its history as a strategic center of Burma and, later, a British colonial center. In 1841, Yangon was completely destroyed by fire. The city was rebuilt but later on suffered from the destruction of the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. After ending the Communist regime in 1989, Yagon city has changed quickly. In the early 1990s, the government repaired the city's appearance by cleaning streets and repainting old buildings, while new cars were allowed to operate in the city and mobile phones have also become more popular ever since. Until now, Yangon is still the largest city that plays an important role in the hearts of the Burmese.

Name main history attractions:

Botahtaung Pagoda Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda: Shwedegon Temple is the most popular tourist destination and is considered the National Guard and pride of the Burmese. The pagoda stands on the top of Singuttara Hill, and according to legend, this is a sacred position ever since Time existed. It is believed that Shwedagon is over 2000 years old and it also houses 4 sacred treasures of Buddhism. The temple was built with thin gold leaves creating unique and charming colors. When the light penetrates through every corner of the temple, this place becomes sparkling and fanciful. Especially, the temple is decorated with thousands of rubies and diamonds that will surely leave an unforgettable impression in every tourist’s heart. Shwedagon is featured in a yellowish shade while in the evening, the temple is lit with bright neon lights shining in the heart of Yangon. The pagoda also possesses a large stupa garden, with many traditional materials like woods, bricks and modern ones such as iron roofs. It can be said that this is a typical Burmese Buddhism pagoda that tourists must visit.

Botataung Pagoda: Considered one of the three most famous religious sites in Yangon, Botahtaung Temple possesses a quirky yet distinctive beauty. Located on the river bank in downtown Yangon, at a height of 40 meters, Botataung is considered one of the highest temples in the city. Built from 2,500 years ago by the Mon, this is one of Yangon's oldest temples, also the most sacred one among Myanmar's golden religious sites. In the temple ground, there are many small towers surrounding the center. This is where the most sacred Buddha relics are located. Among them is the image of the Bronze Royal Buddha, which was cast in 1859 by the order of King Mindon. The architecture of the stupa is extremely unique, with the hollow interior helping visitors go through and explore the stupas easily. Following the passage, tourists will be amazed with the decorations and the treasures hidden inside the stupas.

Sule Pagoda: The temple is nearly 50 meters tall, with the gold-plated dome and the octagonal pyramid shape proving the unique features of the Mon ethnic group. The interior and the details are skillfully decorated which will impress tourists. Sule Temple is a unified block, with the highest stupa in the middle, surrounded by auxiliary buildings with various functions, all are elaborately cast with gold leaves.  In the middle of the 19th century, Yangon was built by the British to become one of Asia's most beautiful cities. In the planning, Sule Pagoda is located in the central position, the intersection of the biggest and most beautiful streets of the city. Therefore, after visiting the Temple door, visitors can wander on the nearby roads and feel a nostalgic Yangon still retaining many traces of colonial times with ancient architectural works like City Hall, Independent Station, Mahabadola Park ...

Allied War Memorial

Allied War Memorial: Located in Mingalodon town, Htauk Kyant Memorial is a must-visit historical site where tourists can pay tribute to the ones who have sacrificed for the peace we have today. Htauk Kyant Memorial is now the resting place of 27,000 soldiers who passed away in the war. The graves here are arranged neatly with the names, ranks, birth and death dates of the soldiers clearly stated. This is the place where tourists can learn more about the past to treasure the present and the value of peace.

Culture (ethnicity, living custom, religious belief, special tradition festival etc)
Myanmar is a Buddhist country with many Buddhist temples and religious sites. Tourists visiting the temples should pay attention to the costumes to avoid being offensive. Myanmar people are very devoted to Buddhism, so they are very discreet and serious when worshipping at temples. As such, tourists should not wear short clothing items such as sleeve-less shirts, shorts or skirts… Wearing flip flops is highly recommended to conveniently remove when entering temples.

Weather

The most ideal time that tourist are recommended to visit Yangon is during the months of November – March, when the weather is relatively dry and temperate. This dry season is especially essential when tourists plan on visiting outdoor sites such as the Hlawga National Park, Yangon Zoological Gardens or the Allied Memorial Cemetery. However, tourists can also visit Yangon during particular festival seasons to fully experience your trip as a local Burmese.

Transportation

• Getting to Bhamo: Yangon is a big city thus travelling to Yangon should be easy, through flights from a foreign country or trains from other Myanmar cities.

Side Street Off Mahabandoola In Downtown Yangon

• Transportation in Yangon: Taxis or Rickshaws are the main forms of transportation in Yangon. The locals usually travel around the city by rickshaw as it brings a very interesting and unforgettable experience. However, rickshaw drivers don’t understand English well. Thus, tourists should ask for a local or the hotel employee to write down the destination or directions in Burmese and show it to the drivers. Taxi price is fairly cheap, and tourist can also try hoping on and exploring the city in the 70s’ car models.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Yangon is a great place for both nature lovers and those who wish to pay homage to Buddhist temples and Burmese historical sites. The magnificent attraction sites here make perfect commemorative pictures for amateur or professional photographers. Yangon is also an ideal city to get some souvenirs for friends and families.
• Currency: Local currency in Myanmar is kyat. It is recommended that tourists exchange money at the airport. Tourists can use Kayat when taking a taxi, eating, getting souvenirs and save USD for large amount payment such as hotels, sightseeing tickets.